In recent developments surrounding the popular social media platform TikTok, the White House has announced that President Donald Trump is set to extend the deadline for a potential sale or ban of the app in the United States yet again. This extension marks the third such delay since Trump assumed office, promising TikTok users continued access for at least another three months. The decision comes in the midst of concerns regarding the app’s Chinese ownership by ByteDance, and its implications regarding data privacy and national security.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt revealed on Tuesday that an additional Executive Order will be signed by Trump to keep TikTok operational. The situation had reached a critical juncture with a January deadline looming, under which ByteDance was expected to sell its US operations to a domestic buyer, or face a complete ban. Despite this, TikTok and ByteDance have yet to provide any official comments regarding the ongoing negotiations or the Executive Order.
Moreover, Leavitt indicated that this 90-day extension seeks to “ensure this deal is closed so that the American people can continue to use TikTok with the assurance that their data is safe and secure.” Notably, Trump had previously suggested he would likely extend the deadline and expressed optimism that Chinese President Xi Jinping would approve any necessary agreements. When queried about the legality of extending the deadline, Trump confidently asserted, “We do,” implying that his administration believes they have the requisite legal standing.
This move, however, seems to contravene the legislative directives passed by Congress, which had established a framework for a sale or ban of TikTok after considerable deliberation. The corresponding bill was signed into law by Trump’s predecessor, Joe Biden, and aims to mitigate the potential for exploitation by the Chinese government, given TikTok’s substantial user base of approximately 170 million American accounts.
In January, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld this legislative stance, solidifying the legal basis for potential actions against TikTok. Just prior to Biden’s inauguration, TikTok experienced a brief disruption in service, which was later reversed, leading the platform to commend Trump for its subsequent reinstatement.
With the deadline extensions becoming increasingly common, analysts are beginning to express skepticism over the likelihood of an actual ban on TikTok occurring during Trump’s presidency. Kelsey Chickering, a principal analyst at Forrester, remarked, “What ban? There is nothing ‘looming’ about the potential TikTok ban anymore.” She further noted that TikTok’s proactive strategies, such as the rollout of artificial intelligence-driven tools, reflect a burgeoning confidence in its future viability.
Despite the numerous complications, the Trump administration suggested in April that significant progress had been made toward reaching a deal that would allow for American control over TikTok’s operations in the U.S. Nonetheless, this deal remains unexecuted, with ByteDance representatives underscoring that any agreement would first need to comply with Chinese laws.
In the context of potential buyers for TikTok, Trump has shown openness to proposals from firms like Oracle, represented by co-founder Larry Ellison, a known ally. Other notable figures expressed interest in purchasing the platform, including billionaires Frank McCourt and Kevin O’Leary, as well as Jimmy Donaldson, famously known as MrBeast, who is also part of an investor group aiming to secure TikTok.
As the situation continues to unfold, TikTok remains embroiled in a complex dance between corporate interests, national security concerns, and the pressing desire of millions of users to maintain the app as a part of their digital lives. The upcoming months will prove critical in determining the fate of TikTok in the United States, amid an ever-evolving landscape of geopolitical tensions and technology regulations.
